DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 –8 of US Patent No. 12,118,206. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1 –8 of US Patent No. 12,118,206 disclose every limitation of claims 1-20 in the instant application.
For Example see below:
Instant Application
US Patent No. 12,118,206
1. A controller device for integrating a physical workspace including at least one electronic device therein with a virtual workspace corresponding to at least one remote or local location to create an interactive workspace communicating with a plurality of controller devices disposed in the physical workspace, comprising: a programmable processor operably coupled to at least one memory device and interfacing with the virtual workspace; a base platform includes a length extending from a front edge to a back edge along a horizontal axis, the base platform configured to contact a supporting surface, the base platform comprising a multi-directional beam-forming microphone, the multi-directional beam-forming microphone configured to capture sound from the physical workspace and convert the sound to audio signals; a first status bar configured to illuminate to provide information to a user; a display panel extending rearwardly at a fixed acute angle, the display panel including a display screen tilted upwardly at the fixed acute angle to optimize a view of the user, wherein the display screen is configured to display a user control interface and receive user input; and wherein the status bar is programmable to selectively illuminate continuously or intermittently, in a chosen color or combinations of colors, in response to user input in the control interface including at least one of the following: powering on of the multi-directional microphone; requesting of the floor; and voting, wherein the status bar may be configured to intermittently illuminate a particular color for a vote of no or continuously illuminate a particular color for a vote of yes or vice versa; wherein the status bar is further programmable to selectively illuminate continuously or intermittently, in a chosen color or combinations of colors, in response to the availability of a physical workspace.
1. A controller device for integrating a physical workspace having at least one electronic device therein with a virtual workspace corresponding to at least one remote or local location to create an interactive workspace communicating with a plurality of controller devices disposed in the physical workspace, comprising: a programmable processor operably coupled to at least one memory device and interfacing with the virtual workspace, wherein the programmable processor is configured to receive media signals from the at least one electronic device and is further configured to generate a control signal based on at least one of the media signals and user input to control the at least one electronic device; a base platform having a length extending from a front edge to a back edge along a horizontal axis, wherein an entirety of the length is parallel to and in contact with a supporting surface, the base platform comprising a first multi-directional beam-forming microphone disposed on the front edge and a second multi-directional beam-forming microphone disposed on the back edge, wherein the first and the second multi-directional beam-forming microphones are configured to capture sound from the physical workspace and convert the sound to audio signals; a first status bar disposed on the front edge of the base platform and configured to illuminate to provide information to a first user; a display panel fixably coupled to the front edge of the base platform and extending upwardly from the front edge towards the back edge at a fixed acute angle, wherein the display panel comprises a front surface, a back surface, and a display screen, wherein the display screen is disposed on the front surface and the fixed acute angle tilts the display screen upwards to optimize a view of the first user, wherein the display screen is configured to display a user control interface and receive user input; and a second status bar disposed on the back surface of the display panel and configured to illuminate to provide information to a second user, wherein the display screen is not visible to the second user; wherein the status bars are programmable to selectively illuminate continuously or intermittently, in a chosen color or combinations of colors, in response to user input in the control interface including at least one of the following: powering on of the multi-directional microphone; requesting of the floor; and voting, wherein the status bars may be configured to intermittently illuminate a particular color for a vote of no or continuously illuminate a particular color for a vote of yes or vice versa; wherein the status bar is further programmable to selectively illuminate continuously or intermittently, in a chosen color or combinations of colors, in response to the availability of a physical workspace.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 contain limitations allowable over the prior art and will be in condition for allowance once the double patenting rejections are overcome.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art teaches various virtual workspaces for example: Noam et al. (US 2023/0139337) and Louch et al. (US 2023/0393700), that are considered relevant to the immediate disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEAN H NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5728. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10-6 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Duc Nguyen can be reached at (571)272-7503. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SEAN H NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691
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